Questlove has set out to prove Hip-Hop Is History with his new book, out June 11th via his own Auwa Books imprint.
Co-written with his longtime collaborator Ben Greenman, Hip-Hop Is History leans on Questlove’s experience as a member of the pioneering hip-hop group The Roots and his encyclopedic knowledge of music to trace “the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits.”
The book is also described as “an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time.” Pre-orders are ongoing.
Hip-Hop Is History will be the second book released on Auwa Books following Sly Stone’s memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), which was published this past October.
It’s also the latest addition to Questlove’s growing bibliography,...
Co-written with his longtime collaborator Ben Greenman, Hip-Hop Is History leans on Questlove’s experience as a member of the pioneering hip-hop group The Roots and his encyclopedic knowledge of music to trace “the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits.”
The book is also described as “an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time.” Pre-orders are ongoing.
Hip-Hop Is History will be the second book released on Auwa Books following Sly Stone’s memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), which was published this past October.
It’s also the latest addition to Questlove’s growing bibliography,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
As the 50th anniversary of Woodstock approached, in 2019, I set out to find Melanie, the folk singer who shot to prominence in the late 1960s. I was curious to know how someone once so famous — known so widely that a first name alone would do — could now be so, well, not famous? Watching an early appearance of Melanie on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson only left me more intrigued about her ambivalent relationship toward fame: How could the same person be so confident and charismatic behind a guitar, but so diffident and uncomfortable chatting with Carson? I reached her by phone in Nashville, where she graciously reminisced on her Fellini-esque beginnings in Europe, and the out-of-body experience that changed everything for her: her solo performance on the first day of the Woodstock music festival, August 15, 1969. “I thought this is the end of my life.” In fact, it was just the beginning.
- 1/30/2024
- by Joseph Fenity
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Andrew McCarthy is getting back together with his fellow Brat Pack alums Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Jon Cryer, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez and more for the feature documentary Brats, a revealing look at the cultural phenomenon they became in the 1980s and how that has impacted their lives ever since.
Brats, from ABC News Studios, Neon, and Network Entertainment, is set to premiere on Hulu later this year. McCarthy, author of the 2021 memoir Brat: An ‘80s Story, writes and directs the documentary, which is now in post-production. He co-starred with fellow Brat Packers in some of the biggest hits of the mid- ‘80s including St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Less Than Zero (1987).
From left: ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’s Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson,
Ally Sheedy and Andrew McCarthy
“McCarthy crisscrosses the country to meet up with some of the stars of those beloved films,...
Brats, from ABC News Studios, Neon, and Network Entertainment, is set to premiere on Hulu later this year. McCarthy, author of the 2021 memoir Brat: An ‘80s Story, writes and directs the documentary, which is now in post-production. He co-starred with fellow Brat Packers in some of the biggest hits of the mid- ‘80s including St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Less Than Zero (1987).
From left: ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’s Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson,
Ally Sheedy and Andrew McCarthy
“McCarthy crisscrosses the country to meet up with some of the stars of those beloved films,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
It was hard to imagine in the years when Chris and Rich Robinson weren’t even on speaking terms, but the Black Crowes have managed to write and record their first studio album of new material in 15 years. Happiness Bastards is due March 15, with a hard-riffing, big-chorused first single, “Wanting and Waiting,” out now.
For the Robinsons, who reconciled in 2019 after what seemed like a final parting in 2015, creating new music together was the easy part. “I wouldn’t say we had to repair our writing relationship, because that was never an issue,...
For the Robinsons, who reconciled in 2019 after what seemed like a final parting in 2015, creating new music together was the easy part. “I wouldn’t say we had to repair our writing relationship, because that was never an issue,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
A version of this response appeared on the Black Rock Coalition’s website.
When Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner made offensive comments in The New York Times about women and Black artists, the Black Rock Coalition, which has battled stereotypes and musical categorizations about what rock is “supposed to be” since 1985, felt obligated to speak out and condemn his misogynistic and racist statements. While we were among many organizations and individuals to call out Wenner, he also had a number of supporters, citing his contributions to popular culture and to the world of music journalism.
When Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner made offensive comments in The New York Times about women and Black artists, the Black Rock Coalition, which has battled stereotypes and musical categorizations about what rock is “supposed to be” since 1985, felt obligated to speak out and condemn his misogynistic and racist statements. While we were among many organizations and individuals to call out Wenner, he also had a number of supporters, citing his contributions to popular culture and to the world of music journalism.
- 10/23/2023
- by LaRonda Davis, Earl Douglas and Darrell M. McNeill
- Rollingstone.com
In the Sixties and Seventies, Sly Stone and his band invented an undeniable cocktail of pop, soul, and psychedelia on hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Family Affair,” and more. But Stone also grappled with drug addiction for decades, which is clear from the first sentence of his upcoming memoir: “I decided to get clean on the fourth visit.”
Co-written with Ben Greenman, who has also worked with Questlove on his books, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Auwa Books, Oct. 17) traces Stone’s...
Co-written with Ben Greenman, who has also worked with Questlove on his books, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Auwa Books, Oct. 17) traces Stone’s...
- 10/3/2023
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
The shows were over, but for Phil Kaufman, the headache was just beginning. Then the road manager for the Flying Burrito Brothers, one of the bands credited with finding the common ground between rock & roll and honky-tonk country, Kaufman had just returned home to Los Angeles, after some Burrito-related work in 1969. In the trunk of his Ford Country Squire station wagon were the embroidered cowboy suits the band had worn onstage and on the cover of its first album, The Gilded Place of Sin. Named after Nudie Cohn, the...
- 7/20/2023
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
Every creator on earth now feels the guiding hand of AI.
On social media, TikTokers are rewarded with massive views for tailoring content to an algorithm that is meticulously designed to trigger dopamine release. In Hollywood, producers are rewarded with lucrative film deals for developing projects that feed the black box AI at studios and streaming platforms, which keep valuable viewership data insights to themselves. That viewership data is built via feedback loops created by recommendation engines reinforced by the very viewer behaviors they shape in the first place. It is value creation increasingly usurped by machines, and between TikTok and streaming platforms, the precious space that allows for human-first innovation is closing. TikTokification is metastasizing.
The Writers Guild is right to push for protections against AI, but nowhere are these protections more urgent than in the documentary and nonfiction space, where I have worked both as a producer and a writer.
On social media, TikTokers are rewarded with massive views for tailoring content to an algorithm that is meticulously designed to trigger dopamine release. In Hollywood, producers are rewarded with lucrative film deals for developing projects that feed the black box AI at studios and streaming platforms, which keep valuable viewership data insights to themselves. That viewership data is built via feedback loops created by recommendation engines reinforced by the very viewer behaviors they shape in the first place. It is value creation increasingly usurped by machines, and between TikTok and streaming platforms, the precious space that allows for human-first innovation is closing. TikTokification is metastasizing.
The Writers Guild is right to push for protections against AI, but nowhere are these protections more urgent than in the documentary and nonfiction space, where I have worked both as a producer and a writer.
- 5/4/2023
- by Emmet McDermott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Funk pioneer Sly Stone is finally ready to share his life story. The Sly and the Family Stone founder has announced his new memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), which will be released on October 17th as the first book published on Questlove’s Auwa Books imprint.
Thank You will feature a foreword penned by Questlove. Stone co-wrote it with Questlove’s frequent collaborator Ben Greenman, who has also worked on memoirs with George Clinton, Brian Wilson, Gene Simmons, and more.
“For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story,” Stone said in a statement. “I wasn’t ready. I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It’s been a wild ride and hopefully my fans enjoy it too.”
Questlove added, “I have been writing books for over a decade,...
Thank You will feature a foreword penned by Questlove. Stone co-wrote it with Questlove’s frequent collaborator Ben Greenman, who has also worked on memoirs with George Clinton, Brian Wilson, Gene Simmons, and more.
“For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story,” Stone said in a statement. “I wasn’t ready. I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It’s been a wild ride and hopefully my fans enjoy it too.”
Questlove added, “I have been writing books for over a decade,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Sly Stone, the enigmatic R&b/funk icon, will share his story in a new memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), arriving Oct. 17 via Questlove’s new publishing imprint, Auwa Books.
Stone co-wrote the new book with Ben Greeman, who’s written memoirs with George Clinton, Brian Wilson, and Questlove (he helped the Roots drummer with his three other books, too). Questlove — who’s directing a documentary about Stone — will also pen a foreword for Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).
In a statement, Stone said, “For...
Stone co-wrote the new book with Ben Greeman, who’s written memoirs with George Clinton, Brian Wilson, and Questlove (he helped the Roots drummer with his three other books, too). Questlove — who’s directing a documentary about Stone — will also pen a foreword for Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).
In a statement, Stone said, “For...
- 3/22/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, content brand company Onyx Collective showcased its slate of programming, which includes two new projects, one from Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media, as well as the highly anticipated sophomore documentary feature from music artist and filmmaker Questlove.
The company has acquired an untitled Sly Stone feature documentary from Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, marking the artist’s second collaboration with the collective.
According to Variety, the documentary promises to examine the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the famous Sly Stone.
The documentary aims to explore the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so, tell a human story about the cost of genius.
Questlove will direct and executive produce, alongside Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman for Two One Five Entertainment Inc. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, a.k.a.
The company has acquired an untitled Sly Stone feature documentary from Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, marking the artist’s second collaboration with the collective.
According to Variety, the documentary promises to examine the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the famous Sly Stone.
The documentary aims to explore the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so, tell a human story about the cost of genius.
Questlove will direct and executive produce, alongside Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman for Two One Five Entertainment Inc. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, a.k.a.
- 1/22/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Hot off an Oscar win for his 2021 directorial debut “Summer of Soul,” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is preparing to return to the director’s chair for another documentary about Black music history. The multi-hyphenate is currently at work on an untitled documentary with MRC about Sly and the Family Stone frontman Sylvester Stewart, better known by his stage name Sly Stone. In addition to directing, Questlove will produce the film alongside Joseph Patel and Derik Murray.
The official synopsis for the untitled documentary reads: “Oscar-winning filmmaker Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson directs his sophomore feature documentary follow-up to ‘Summer of Soul,’ examining the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. This film tells the story behind the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so, tells a very human story about the cost of genius.
The official synopsis for the untitled documentary reads: “Oscar-winning filmmaker Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson directs his sophomore feature documentary follow-up to ‘Summer of Soul,’ examining the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. This film tells the story behind the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so, tells a very human story about the cost of genius.
- 1/21/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
As part of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Onyx Collective unveiled its expanding slate of programming to come in the near future during their Storytellers Showcase – which notably includes two new projects, one from Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media, as well as the highly anticipated sophomore documentary feature from music artist and filmmaker Questlove.
The company has acquired an untitled Sly Stone feature documentary from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, marking the artist’s second collaboration with the collective. Variety has learned the doc promises to examine the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the famous Sly Stone. The documentary aims to explore the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so, tell a human story about the cost of genius.
Questlove will direct and executive produce, alongside Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman for Two One Five Entertainment Inc.
The company has acquired an untitled Sly Stone feature documentary from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, marking the artist’s second collaboration with the collective. Variety has learned the doc promises to examine the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the famous Sly Stone. The documentary aims to explore the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so, tell a human story about the cost of genius.
Questlove will direct and executive produce, alongside Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman for Two One Five Entertainment Inc.
- 1/21/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Onyx Collective came armed with news during its presentation Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival.
Disney’s Tara Duncan-led quasi studio has put a Queen of Sheba scripted drama series in development. Onyx, which produces content exclusively for Hulu, has also nabbed two documentaries out of the snowy fest: Questlove’s untitled Sly Stone feature and Ryan Coogler’s Anthem.
Sheba, which is also exec produced by Coogler, is co-created by Chantelle Wells (Showtime’s Yellowjackets) and actress-writer-producer Azie Tesfai (Supergirl). The drama explores the rise to power of the first queen on the continent of Africa as she seeks to unite the nation now known as Ethiopia, making it one of the richest, most formidable kingdoms in the world. Inspired by true events, the potential series follows Makeda into a world of danger, deceit and political intrigue as she is forced to step into a role that no one,...
Disney’s Tara Duncan-led quasi studio has put a Queen of Sheba scripted drama series in development. Onyx, which produces content exclusively for Hulu, has also nabbed two documentaries out of the snowy fest: Questlove’s untitled Sly Stone feature and Ryan Coogler’s Anthem.
Sheba, which is also exec produced by Coogler, is co-created by Chantelle Wells (Showtime’s Yellowjackets) and actress-writer-producer Azie Tesfai (Supergirl). The drama explores the rise to power of the first queen on the continent of Africa as she seeks to unite the nation now known as Ethiopia, making it one of the richest, most formidable kingdoms in the world. Inspired by true events, the potential series follows Makeda into a world of danger, deceit and political intrigue as she is forced to step into a role that no one,...
- 1/21/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Onyx Collective has landed a pair of documentaries including Questlove’s upcoming Sly Stone film.
The brand, which airs on Hulu, will air both Questlove’s Untitled Sly Stone documentary and Anthem, which follows composer Kris Bowers and music producer Dahi as they take on a musical journey across the U.S. experimenting to reimagine the National Anthem.
Separately, the brand has struck an overall deal with Joseph Patel, who produced Oscar-winning doc Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised alongside Questlove.
Questlove will direct the Stone doc about Stone, otherwise known as Sylvester Stewart, who was frontman of Sly and the Family Stone and known for pioneering funk music.
It will examine the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone and tells the story behind the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so,...
The brand, which airs on Hulu, will air both Questlove’s Untitled Sly Stone documentary and Anthem, which follows composer Kris Bowers and music producer Dahi as they take on a musical journey across the U.S. experimenting to reimagine the National Anthem.
Separately, the brand has struck an overall deal with Joseph Patel, who produced Oscar-winning doc Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised alongside Questlove.
Questlove will direct the Stone doc about Stone, otherwise known as Sylvester Stewart, who was frontman of Sly and the Family Stone and known for pioneering funk music.
It will examine the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone and tells the story behind the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists and, in doing so,...
- 1/21/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival will reschedule Magazine Dreams screening for Marlee Matlin and fellow jurors.
Sundance said on Saturday its accessibility efforts are “always evolving” after Marlee Matlin and fellow US Dramatic Competition jurors walked out of Friday night’s world premiere of Magazine Dreams when captioning devices temporarily stalled.
According to reports the captioning device given to Matlin and other audience members who are deaf and hard of hearing did not function at the start of the screening. It was later repaired and it is understood the jury will watch the film at a rescheduled screening.
Variety, which broke the story, reported...
Sundance said on Saturday its accessibility efforts are “always evolving” after Marlee Matlin and fellow US Dramatic Competition jurors walked out of Friday night’s world premiere of Magazine Dreams when captioning devices temporarily stalled.
According to reports the captioning device given to Matlin and other audience members who are deaf and hard of hearing did not function at the start of the screening. It was later repaired and it is understood the jury will watch the film at a rescheduled screening.
Variety, which broke the story, reported...
- 1/21/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Oscar-winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has lined up his next project – a documentary on the late groundbreaking hip hop producer J Dilla (James Dewitt Yancey).
Thompson, who won the Academy Award earlier this year for directing Summer of Soul, will executive produce Dilla Time, based on the New York Times bestseller Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas. Joseph Patel, who produced Summer of Soul (along with with Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein) will co-direct Dilla Time with Darby Wheeler.
Thompson’s Two One Five Entertainment, Cinetic Media, and Scenario Media are among the production partners on the film, which enjoys the approval of Yancey’s survivors. Dilla died in 2006 at the age of 32 from a rare blood disorder.
“The estate of James Dewitt Yancey, and its wholly-owned production entity, Pay Jay Productions, Inc., which benefits J Dilla’s two children,...
Thompson, who won the Academy Award earlier this year for directing Summer of Soul, will executive produce Dilla Time, based on the New York Times bestseller Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas. Joseph Patel, who produced Summer of Soul (along with with Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein) will co-direct Dilla Time with Darby Wheeler.
Thompson’s Two One Five Entertainment, Cinetic Media, and Scenario Media are among the production partners on the film, which enjoys the approval of Yancey’s survivors. Dilla died in 2006 at the age of 32 from a rare blood disorder.
“The estate of James Dewitt Yancey, and its wholly-owned production entity, Pay Jay Productions, Inc., which benefits J Dilla’s two children,...
- 9/22/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscar-winning Questlove will serve as an executive producer on an upcoming documentary about J Dilla, the hip-hop producer that the Roots drummer previously proclaimed was “the music god that music gods and music experts and music lovers worship.”
Dilla Time, made in cooperation with James “J. Dilla” Yancey’s estate, will be “part biography, part musicology, and part musical meditation” of the influential Detroit-born artist, who died at the age of 32 in 2006 of a rare blood disease.
“Explaining musical genius is my mission. To be able to tell the...
Dilla Time, made in cooperation with James “J. Dilla” Yancey’s estate, will be “part biography, part musicology, and part musical meditation” of the influential Detroit-born artist, who died at the age of 32 in 2006 of a rare blood disease.
“Explaining musical genius is my mission. To be able to tell the...
- 9/22/2022
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Right from the start, In Search of… stood out. I discovered N.E.R.D.’s 2002 debut at a Best Buy on the rim of Houston’s I-10 loop, sitting at the front of the store on a blue kiosk marked 6.99. I was a first-year high school English teacher, struggling to pull together all the things expected of me. There was this unfussy album cover staring at me, with a twenty-something Black guy on a battered-looking couch in a nondescript apartment playing a video game in his house clothes, blankly staring at an off-screen TV,...
- 8/13/2022
- by Tre Johnson
- Rollingstone.com
Brian Gersh has been named president of Network Entertainment USA.
He brings three decades of experience in the entertainment industry, having worked as an executive, agent, manager, and producer, where he has greenlit scores of film and television projects around the world. Prior to his promotion, Gersh served as SVP at Network Entertainment USA.
“Brian brings to Network a deep roster of collaborative partners, top talent, and intellectual property relationships formed over his long and successful career, creating boundless new opportunities for Network,” said Derik Murray, Network’s founder and CEO . “Brian’s appointment as the president of Network Entertainment USA further solidifies our focus and commitment to our U.S. and global partners to continue delivering exceptional premium content that resonates with audiences and critics around the world.”
Gersh previously served as head of the talent department at Triad Artists, co-head of the motion picture department at the William Morris Agency,...
He brings three decades of experience in the entertainment industry, having worked as an executive, agent, manager, and producer, where he has greenlit scores of film and television projects around the world. Prior to his promotion, Gersh served as SVP at Network Entertainment USA.
“Brian brings to Network a deep roster of collaborative partners, top talent, and intellectual property relationships formed over his long and successful career, creating boundless new opportunities for Network,” said Derik Murray, Network’s founder and CEO . “Brian’s appointment as the president of Network Entertainment USA further solidifies our focus and commitment to our U.S. and global partners to continue delivering exceptional premium content that resonates with audiences and critics around the world.”
Gersh previously served as head of the talent department at Triad Artists, co-head of the motion picture department at the William Morris Agency,...
- 6/14/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Academy Award-nominee Eddie Murphy is in talks to play funk legend and Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton in an upcoming biopic.
Dubbed the Godfather of Funk, Clinton is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and widely regarded as one of the most important innovators of the musical genre, along with James Brown and Sly Stone.
The developing project is said to chronicle Clinton’s life and legacy, from his childhood in 1940s North Carolina, to the formation of his groundbreaking bands Parliament and Funkadelic in the late 1960s. The movie will also explore Clinton and the bands’ impact of the future of hip-hop and artists like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Outkast and the Wu-Tang Clan.
In addition to embodying the iconic musician on screen, Murphy will also serve as producer, alongside John Davis and Catherine Davis through their Davis Entertainment banner.
Dubbed the Godfather of Funk, Clinton is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and widely regarded as one of the most important innovators of the musical genre, along with James Brown and Sly Stone.
The developing project is said to chronicle Clinton’s life and legacy, from his childhood in 1940s North Carolina, to the formation of his groundbreaking bands Parliament and Funkadelic in the late 1960s. The movie will also explore Clinton and the bands’ impact of the future of hip-hop and artists like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Outkast and the Wu-Tang Clan.
In addition to embodying the iconic musician on screen, Murphy will also serve as producer, alongside John Davis and Catherine Davis through their Davis Entertainment banner.
- 3/31/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Eddie Murphy is in early talks to play Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton in an upcoming biopic.
Murphy also will serve as producer with John Davis and Catherine Davis through their Davis Entertainment banner. They are tying down rights with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and then they will set writers and shop the project.
Murphy has a three-picture deal with Amazon that came after the success of Coming 2 America, and this is a passion project for him.
Clinton is widely considered to be the Godfather of Funk, rivaling James Brown and Sly Stone as the foremost innovators in that musical genre. The film will tell the story of the iconic musician’s humble beginnings in North Carolina in the 1940s to the formation of his groundbreaking bands Parliament and Funkadelic and ultimately to becoming a major influence on artists...
Murphy also will serve as producer with John Davis and Catherine Davis through their Davis Entertainment banner. They are tying down rights with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and then they will set writers and shop the project.
Murphy has a three-picture deal with Amazon that came after the success of Coming 2 America, and this is a passion project for him.
Clinton is widely considered to be the Godfather of Funk, rivaling James Brown and Sly Stone as the foremost innovators in that musical genre. The film will tell the story of the iconic musician’s humble beginnings in North Carolina in the 1940s to the formation of his groundbreaking bands Parliament and Funkadelic and ultimately to becoming a major influence on artists...
- 3/31/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Bootsy Collins presides over a kaleidoscopic funktopia in the video for his new song “Hip Hop Lollipop,” a remake of “Club Funkateers” from his recent album, The Power of the One. The clip features Hamburg artist Fantaazma rapping and dancing around clips of Collins singing the “Funkateers” chorus — “How much you got, how much you gon’ get?” The song features a virtuosic bass solo break by Victor Wooten that’s so hot sparks come flying off his instrument in the clip, as well as impressive saxophone licks by Branford Marsalis.
- 2/25/2022
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Betty Davis, a soul and funk singer of the 1960s whose growling, raspy vocal style and unapologetically explicit lyrics would influence future performers from Prince and Erykah Badu to Outkast, died today of natural causes at her home in Homestead, Pennsylvania. She was 77.
Her death was announced by lifelong friend Connie Portis, who said in a statement, “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star, singer, songwriter, and fashion icon. Most of all, Betty was a friend, aunt, niece, and beloved member of her community of Homestead, Pennsylvania, and of the worldwide community of friends and fans.”
Born Betty Mabry, the North Carolina native moved to New York City at 16 to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. Modeling for such magazines as Glamour and Seventeen, she was drawn to the burgeoning music scene of Greenwich Village,...
Her death was announced by lifelong friend Connie Portis, who said in a statement, “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star, singer, songwriter, and fashion icon. Most of all, Betty was a friend, aunt, niece, and beloved member of her community of Homestead, Pennsylvania, and of the worldwide community of friends and fans.”
Born Betty Mabry, the North Carolina native moved to New York City at 16 to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. Modeling for such magazines as Glamour and Seventeen, she was drawn to the burgeoning music scene of Greenwich Village,...
- 2/9/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
M.C. Taylor was watching footage of the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by Donald Trump’s Maga faction when he saw a rioter flying the U.S. flag upside down, a recognized but rarely used symbol of distress. The North Carolina singer-songwriter’s stomach dropped. Taylor and his band, Hiss Golden Messenger, were just weeks away from releasing their new record, Quietly Blowing It, in March — with an image of an inverted American flag on the cover.
Despite 2,000 copies of Quietly Blowing It already pressed on vinyl ahead of release,...
Despite 2,000 copies of Quietly Blowing It already pressed on vinyl ahead of release,...
- 2/1/2022
- by Jonathan Bernstein
- Rollingstone.com
“It’s more than me being a filmmaker,” Questlove says in the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now. “I’m in the business of correcting and restoring history.” His new career launched with last year’s spectacular documentary Summer of Soul — a likely Oscar contender with a soundtrack album dropping this week — and he details the making of the film in the episode.
To hear the entire discussion, press play above, or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Questlove has lined up six or seven other movie projects that...
To hear the entire discussion, press play above, or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Questlove has lined up six or seven other movie projects that...
- 1/27/2022
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Disney’s ABC has renewed Tamron Hall’s daytime talk show for two more seasons, with the company’s local stations group agreeing to continue to carry the program.
The decision guarantees a fourth and fifth season for the program, which was recently placed under the aegis of ABC News, and will see it produced through the 2023-2024 season.
“ABC’s decision to give our show a two-season renewal is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Hall, in a prepared statement. “I am so lucky to have such great partners, from ABC to all of our stations across the country, and an amazing team who all support the spirit of the show. We wouldn’t have our success without our loyal audience.” Hall’s recent one-on-one interviews have included Issa Rae, Cassandra Peterson, Carmelo Anthony, Amanda Gorman, Debra Messing, Tarana Burke, Bear Grylls and Misty Copeland.
The renewal comes after a...
The decision guarantees a fourth and fifth season for the program, which was recently placed under the aegis of ABC News, and will see it produced through the 2023-2024 season.
“ABC’s decision to give our show a two-season renewal is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Hall, in a prepared statement. “I am so lucky to have such great partners, from ABC to all of our stations across the country, and an amazing team who all support the spirit of the show. We wouldn’t have our success without our loyal audience.” Hall’s recent one-on-one interviews have included Issa Rae, Cassandra Peterson, Carmelo Anthony, Amanda Gorman, Debra Messing, Tarana Burke, Bear Grylls and Misty Copeland.
The renewal comes after a...
- 11/8/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: White Horse Pictures and Homegrown Pictures have teamed on an untitled documentary feature about the legendary musician and genius keyboardist Billy Preston. He was called the Fifth Beatle, because he the only non-member ever to be credited on a Beatles recording. He had plenty of his own hits and co-wrote the song Joe Cocker made famous, You Are So Beautiful. Fifteen years after his death in 2006, Billy Preston was inducted this past weekend into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Paris Barclay, the multi-Emmy-winning director, producer, and writer will direct. Cheo Hodari Coker is writing the film alongside Barclay.
The film is produced by Homegrown’s Stephanie Allain, White Horse’s Jeanne Elfant Festa, (Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart) and Nigel Sinclair. The exec producers are Barclay, Daniel Shaw, G. Marq Roswell, Olivia Harrison, Jonathan Clyde, and White Horse Pictures’ Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann. Coker is co-producing and Erikka Yancy serves as the film’s supervising producer. Pic is presented by Concord Originals alongside Impact Partners, Chicago Media Project, and Play/Action Pictures, Polygram Entertainment, Dave Knott, and Sobey Road Entertainment.
Said Allain: “A singular figure in music history, Billy Preston lent his genius to elevate the most celebrated artists of the 20th Century. Grateful to work with this team, using this soundtrack to explore his personal journey and finally place him front and center.” Barclay said “the Billy Preston we know was an incomparable musician,” but the Billy we’ll see in this documentary was a mass of contradictions. I’m thrilled to dig deeper into the complex man under the Afro, and behind the famous smile.”
A self taught prodigy keyboard player, Preston was just 16 when he met the not-yet-famous Beatles while playing for Little Richard while they toured Hamburg in 1962. He befriended the young, impoverished band by sneaking them food and drinks. Later in the ’60s, this led to Preston playing on The Beatles’ Let It Be and Abbey Road albums as a credited musician, and performing with the Beatles in their last live performance as a group – the famous Roof Top concert. The Grammy Award-winning artist had solo career that included number one hits, and working with The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nat King Cole, Sly Stone, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson, among others. Preston is featured in the upcoming Peter Jackson-directed documentary The Beatles: Get Back.
Despite an enviable career in music, Preston had a challenging personal story that involved sexual abuse he endured as a child. He struggled with his sexuality and had substance abuse problems he used to make his pain. Only later in life did he come to terms with his truth and so find his peace.
Barclay and Hodari Coker asked to make a shout out to those who knew Preston or worked with him, who and may have recordings, photographs, or personal memories to make contact through http://www.billyprestondoc.com.
UTA Independent Film Group with White Horse Pictures helped raise the funding and they will broker sales of the film.
Allain’s Homegrown is repped by UTA, First Artists and Marcy Morris; Barclay is ICM and Lovett Management.
Paris Barclay, the multi-Emmy-winning director, producer, and writer will direct. Cheo Hodari Coker is writing the film alongside Barclay.
The film is produced by Homegrown’s Stephanie Allain, White Horse’s Jeanne Elfant Festa, (Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart) and Nigel Sinclair. The exec producers are Barclay, Daniel Shaw, G. Marq Roswell, Olivia Harrison, Jonathan Clyde, and White Horse Pictures’ Nicholas Ferrall and Cassidy Hartmann. Coker is co-producing and Erikka Yancy serves as the film’s supervising producer. Pic is presented by Concord Originals alongside Impact Partners, Chicago Media Project, and Play/Action Pictures, Polygram Entertainment, Dave Knott, and Sobey Road Entertainment.
Said Allain: “A singular figure in music history, Billy Preston lent his genius to elevate the most celebrated artists of the 20th Century. Grateful to work with this team, using this soundtrack to explore his personal journey and finally place him front and center.” Barclay said “the Billy Preston we know was an incomparable musician,” but the Billy we’ll see in this documentary was a mass of contradictions. I’m thrilled to dig deeper into the complex man under the Afro, and behind the famous smile.”
A self taught prodigy keyboard player, Preston was just 16 when he met the not-yet-famous Beatles while playing for Little Richard while they toured Hamburg in 1962. He befriended the young, impoverished band by sneaking them food and drinks. Later in the ’60s, this led to Preston playing on The Beatles’ Let It Be and Abbey Road albums as a credited musician, and performing with the Beatles in their last live performance as a group – the famous Roof Top concert. The Grammy Award-winning artist had solo career that included number one hits, and working with The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nat King Cole, Sly Stone, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson, among others. Preston is featured in the upcoming Peter Jackson-directed documentary The Beatles: Get Back.
Despite an enviable career in music, Preston had a challenging personal story that involved sexual abuse he endured as a child. He struggled with his sexuality and had substance abuse problems he used to make his pain. Only later in life did he come to terms with his truth and so find his peace.
Barclay and Hodari Coker asked to make a shout out to those who knew Preston or worked with him, who and may have recordings, photographs, or personal memories to make contact through http://www.billyprestondoc.com.
UTA Independent Film Group with White Horse Pictures helped raise the funding and they will broker sales of the film.
Allain’s Homegrown is repped by UTA, First Artists and Marcy Morris; Barclay is ICM and Lovett Management.
- 11/4/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Network Entertainment has optioned Andrew McCarthy’s bestselling memoir Brat: An ’80s Story and will produce a documentary adaptation, the company said Monday.
McCarthy, who rose to fame in the 1980s with roles in such classics as St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink and Weekend at Bernie’s, long has pondered what it has meant to him to be an integral member of the iconic group of movie stars known as the Brat Pack. Writing the book, released earlier this year, answered many questions that he’s wrestled with throughout his life. But it also brought up more. Was being identified as a Brat Packer the worst thing that ever happened to him, or was it actually the best?
Brat will follow McCarthy across the country as he goes directly to the source, seeking out other Brat Pack members to find out what it has meant to each of them...
McCarthy, who rose to fame in the 1980s with roles in such classics as St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink and Weekend at Bernie’s, long has pondered what it has meant to him to be an integral member of the iconic group of movie stars known as the Brat Pack. Writing the book, released earlier this year, answered many questions that he’s wrestled with throughout his life. But it also brought up more. Was being identified as a Brat Packer the worst thing that ever happened to him, or was it actually the best?
Brat will follow McCarthy across the country as he goes directly to the source, seeking out other Brat Pack members to find out what it has meant to each of them...
- 11/1/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tamron Hall’s new murder mystery is pure fiction, but it’s built out of many of the elements of her real life.
In “As the Wicked Watch,” TV reporter Jordan Manning works to track down the killer of a young Black teenager, and in doing so, takes readers on an investigation that examines not only crime, but cultural perceptions about race, gender and class. Hall’s journey from Texas TV reporter to national talk-show host and journalist is mirrored in Manning’s own story arc. Pieces of plot is based on two murders Hall covered when she was starting out in Texas, and Manning shares many of the journalist’s fashion choices, including her love of stilettos.
“There are obviously certain character traits that relate to me and that viewers will recognize as part of my voice, and then there are parts of the character that in some ways I’m envious of,...
In “As the Wicked Watch,” TV reporter Jordan Manning works to track down the killer of a young Black teenager, and in doing so, takes readers on an investigation that examines not only crime, but cultural perceptions about race, gender and class. Hall’s journey from Texas TV reporter to national talk-show host and journalist is mirrored in Manning’s own story arc. Pieces of plot is based on two murders Hall covered when she was starting out in Texas, and Manning shares many of the journalist’s fashion choices, including her love of stilettos.
“There are obviously certain character traits that relate to me and that viewers will recognize as part of my voice, and then there are parts of the character that in some ways I’m envious of,...
- 10/27/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Woodstock ’99 Documentary ‘Burn It Down!’ From MRC Non-Fiction Bound for London Festival (Exclusive)
MRC Non-Fiction’s feature documentary “Burn It Down!,” which reexamines the infamous Woodstock ’99 music festival, will have its world premiere at the 65th British Film Institute (BFI) London Film Festival.
The festival took place during the last summer of the 20th century on July 23-25, 1999 and featured performances by Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Insane Clown Posse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Wyclef Jean and Sheryl Crow among others. It was meant to invoke the spirit of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival on its 30th anniversary, but failed to do so.
“Festival organisers cobbled together a poorly conceived rehash of an iconic cultural moment. From security, to basic needs, nothing had been properly planned,” reads the film’s description in the BFI London Film Festival program. “The line-up was a cocktail of 1990s pop rock and peak nu metal angry-white-man bands, including Limp Bizkit and Korn. What began as carefree revelry...
The festival took place during the last summer of the 20th century on July 23-25, 1999 and featured performances by Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Insane Clown Posse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Wyclef Jean and Sheryl Crow among others. It was meant to invoke the spirit of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival on its 30th anniversary, but failed to do so.
“Festival organisers cobbled together a poorly conceived rehash of an iconic cultural moment. From security, to basic needs, nothing had been properly planned,” reads the film’s description in the BFI London Film Festival program. “The line-up was a cocktail of 1990s pop rock and peak nu metal angry-white-man bands, including Limp Bizkit and Korn. What began as carefree revelry...
- 9/14/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Parliament-Funkadelic founder George Clinton turns 80 on July 22nd, and to celebrate, we sat down with him for an in-depth conversation that looks back on decades of musical innovation. In the interview, Clinton reminisces about the earliest days of Parliament and Funkadelic, and he explains how his music was influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Vanilla Fudge(!), Louis Jordan, his friend Sly Stone, and others.
Though Clinton grew up in New Jersey, Funkadelic’s style drew heavily from New Orleans. “To me, the only genre that wasn...
Though Clinton grew up in New Jersey, Funkadelic’s style drew heavily from New Orleans. “To me, the only genre that wasn...
- 7/22/2021
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Is Questlove’s “Summer of Soul” a concert film with sequences that put the music in the context of race relations in the late ’60s, or is it an examination of a crucial time in American history that has one hell of a soundtrack?
It’s both, and it’s neither. The feature directorial debut of Ahmir Thompson, who goes by the name of Questlove in his position as leader of the band the Roots, is a documentary in which politics and music are inextricably linked, in which culture flows from the church to the street to the concert stage.
You can come for the music and stay for the politics, or vice versa; either way, it’s a vibrant document of an inspiring event that never loses sight of what that event meant for a community, a city and a culture.
The film was one of the opening-night presentations...
It’s both, and it’s neither. The feature directorial debut of Ahmir Thompson, who goes by the name of Questlove in his position as leader of the band the Roots, is a documentary in which politics and music are inextricably linked, in which culture flows from the church to the street to the concert stage.
You can come for the music and stay for the politics, or vice versa; either way, it’s a vibrant document of an inspiring event that never loses sight of what that event meant for a community, a city and a culture.
The film was one of the opening-night presentations...
- 6/24/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Over the past half-decade, M.C. Taylor has released four new albums (and a slew of outtakes compilations and live records) under the moniker of his country-soul recording outfit, Hiss Golden Messenger. But more impressive than the sheer quantity of the North Carolina singer-songwriter’s output is the degree of spiritual sensitivity, compositional craft, and high-stakes emotional urgency Taylor has been able to bring to each collection in such quick succession.
Rarely do songwriters who release original music so often manage to make each release feel as necessary as Taylor — And...
Rarely do songwriters who release original music so often manage to make each release feel as necessary as Taylor — And...
- 6/23/2021
- by Jonathan Bernstein
- Rollingstone.com
Apple TV+’s 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything is immersive and fairly ambitious. The eight-part documentary series wants to run 33 revolutions per minute, and only comes up about a third short. It captures how musicians’ fingers were on the pulse of the day’s headlines and the laid the tracks for the nights’ rhythms.
Artists sang the news, sometimes causing it, other times reacting. Rock and roll had grown up and rock musicians took on responsibilities. Rhythm and blues got loose and soul musicians took to the streets. A former University of California philosophy professor named Angela Davis was charged with aiding and abetting the murder of a judge and Aretha Franklin personally offered to post bail.
The documentary series points out how The Beatles took the lead on youth culture movement during the 1960s, and how the elder society tried to beat it down in the 1970s,...
Artists sang the news, sometimes causing it, other times reacting. Rock and roll had grown up and rock musicians took on responsibilities. Rhythm and blues got loose and soul musicians took to the streets. A former University of California philosophy professor named Angela Davis was charged with aiding and abetting the murder of a judge and Aretha Franklin personally offered to post bail.
The documentary series points out how The Beatles took the lead on youth culture movement during the 1960s, and how the elder society tried to beat it down in the 1970s,...
- 5/19/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Annie Clark has framed her frenetic and unabashedly retro new album Daddy’s Home as a kind of reckoning. Her father has returned home from prison, where he served 12 years for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar stock manipulation scheme; in the meantime, Clark radically transformed her St. Vincent music persona, evolving from a small-time indie artist with a cult following to a self-proclaimed “near-future cult leader” within pop music. While her last album Masseduction peered at her newfound fame through an electro-pop funhouse mirror, Daddy’s Home looks backward, examining Clark’s...
- 5/14/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Sundance-winning film from Searchlight Pictures opens July 2
Questlove’s documentary “Summer of Soul” uncovers 50-year-old, never-before-seen footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 that attracted thousands and featured legendary performances but was ignored by the media and neglected by history.
All that changes with “Summer of Soul…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised,” and the first trailer for Questlove’s Sundance-winning documentary features a glimpse of some of the pristine performances, including those by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone and many more.
A teaser version of the trailer debuted during a commercial break for the Oscars with an introduction by Questlove, who was also the Academy Awards musical director and came after Questlove played a game of Oscars trivia that resulted in Glenn Close twerking to the song “Da Butt.”
Also Read:
Questlove Was Stunned by the 50-Year-Old Hidden Footage That Inspired ‘Summer of...
Questlove’s documentary “Summer of Soul” uncovers 50-year-old, never-before-seen footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 that attracted thousands and featured legendary performances but was ignored by the media and neglected by history.
All that changes with “Summer of Soul…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised,” and the first trailer for Questlove’s Sundance-winning documentary features a glimpse of some of the pristine performances, including those by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone and many more.
A teaser version of the trailer debuted during a commercial break for the Oscars with an introduction by Questlove, who was also the Academy Awards musical director and came after Questlove played a game of Oscars trivia that resulted in Glenn Close twerking to the song “Da Butt.”
Also Read:
Questlove Was Stunned by the 50-Year-Old Hidden Footage That Inspired ‘Summer of...
- 4/26/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: DC Young Fly, best known as a cast member of MTV’s long-running improv series, Wild ‘n Out, has been added to the cast of New Line’s reimagining of the 1990 cult comedy House Party, produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter of The SpringHill Company.
He’s joining previously announced stars Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Tosin Cole in the film, which is being directed by Calmatic, marking his feature directorial debut. Emmy-nominated Atlanta writers Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori penned the script.
Reginald Hudlin, who wrote and directed the original film starring hip hop duo Kid ‘n Play, will serve as executive producer alongside Warrington Hudlin as well as Spencer Beighley and Jamal Henderson for SpringHill. Richard Brener, Josh Mack, and Victoria Palmeri will oversee production for the studio.
DC Young Fly, who got his start by creating videos and roasts on Vine, was most recently be seen...
He’s joining previously announced stars Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Tosin Cole in the film, which is being directed by Calmatic, marking his feature directorial debut. Emmy-nominated Atlanta writers Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori penned the script.
Reginald Hudlin, who wrote and directed the original film starring hip hop duo Kid ‘n Play, will serve as executive producer alongside Warrington Hudlin as well as Spencer Beighley and Jamal Henderson for SpringHill. Richard Brener, Josh Mack, and Victoria Palmeri will oversee production for the studio.
DC Young Fly, who got his start by creating videos and roasts on Vine, was most recently be seen...
- 4/20/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Roots founders Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter have brought on a trio of female executives as their Two One Five Entertainment banner is ramping up production on film, television, and podcast projects. Zarah Zohlman has been hired as the Director of Development & Production, while Brittany Benjamin will serve in the role of Manager Content Development & Podcast Strategy and Jasmine Martin has come on as a Creative Consultant.
Martin is known for developing cross-collaborative, integrated projects that allow her clients to shift culture by bridging the gap between fashion, art, music and film. Zohlman spent over a decade at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, holding the title of Associate Producer most recently.
The new additions come after Two One Five Entertainment secured the multiple-year first-look deal with Universal Television, extending their long-term relationship with NBC as The Roots have served as the house band for...
Martin is known for developing cross-collaborative, integrated projects that allow her clients to shift culture by bridging the gap between fashion, art, music and film. Zohlman spent over a decade at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, holding the title of Associate Producer most recently.
The new additions come after Two One Five Entertainment secured the multiple-year first-look deal with Universal Television, extending their long-term relationship with NBC as The Roots have served as the house band for...
- 4/15/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscars producers have unveiled the production team for this year’s ceremony, including Questlove as the show’s musical director and Richard Lagravenese and Dream Hampton as writers.
Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh, the producers for this year’s Academy Awards, announced a total of 14 new members of the team on Wednesday. This follows the news that Glenn Weiss will be returning to direct the show with the intention of making it look more cinematic than past Oscars broadcasts.
The members added to this year’s show are supervising producer Rob Paine, co-producers Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, Dionne Harmon and Raj Kapoor, talent producer Taryn Hurd, writers Amberia Allen, Rodney Barnes, Dream Hampton, Mitchell Marchand and Richard Lagravenese and head writer Jon Macks, music director Questlove, production designer David Rockwell and lighting designer Robert Dickinson.
The Roots crew leader Questlove has previously been a musical director for artists like D’Angelo,...
Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh, the producers for this year’s Academy Awards, announced a total of 14 new members of the team on Wednesday. This follows the news that Glenn Weiss will be returning to direct the show with the intention of making it look more cinematic than past Oscars broadcasts.
The members added to this year’s show are supervising producer Rob Paine, co-producers Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, Dionne Harmon and Raj Kapoor, talent producer Taryn Hurd, writers Amberia Allen, Rodney Barnes, Dream Hampton, Mitchell Marchand and Richard Lagravenese and head writer Jon Macks, music director Questlove, production designer David Rockwell and lighting designer Robert Dickinson.
The Roots crew leader Questlove has previously been a musical director for artists like D’Angelo,...
- 3/24/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features drummer Sonny Emory.
When Sonny Emory was a kid growing up in Atlanta, the largest poster on his bedroom wall was the cover of the 1977 Earth,...
When Sonny Emory was a kid growing up in Atlanta, the largest poster on his bedroom wall was the cover of the 1977 Earth,...
- 3/24/2021
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Network Entertainment has signed with ICM Partners for global representation, the agency tells Deadline.
Led by founder and CEO Derik Murray, president & COO Paul Gertz, and SVP & executive producer Brian Gersh, Network is a boutique production company that develops, finances and produces documentary programming for big-screen audiences, TV networks and streamers. Its focus is on projects that celebrate iconic personalities and their legacies, and others honing in on cultural topics within the areas of music, film, comedy, sports, politics and business.
Recently, the company partnered with MRC Non-Fiction and director Questlove on an upcoming documentary centered on groundbreaking musician Sly Stone. On that project, Oscar and Emmy winner Common serves as EP.
“We are truly blessed to be working with an A-list roster of partners and collaborators on our current projects and upcoming slate,” Gersh said, “and are excited about joining forces with ICM to usher in this next phase of Network’s evolution.
Led by founder and CEO Derik Murray, president & COO Paul Gertz, and SVP & executive producer Brian Gersh, Network is a boutique production company that develops, finances and produces documentary programming for big-screen audiences, TV networks and streamers. Its focus is on projects that celebrate iconic personalities and their legacies, and others honing in on cultural topics within the areas of music, film, comedy, sports, politics and business.
Recently, the company partnered with MRC Non-Fiction and director Questlove on an upcoming documentary centered on groundbreaking musician Sly Stone. On that project, Oscar and Emmy winner Common serves as EP.
“We are truly blessed to be working with an A-list roster of partners and collaborators on our current projects and upcoming slate,” Gersh said, “and are excited about joining forces with ICM to usher in this next phase of Network’s evolution.
- 3/17/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the last times Annie Clark went to see her father in a Texas prison, a fellow visitor asked her to autograph a receipt — the only paper they had on hand. “You can’t bring phones in, so you can’t take a normal selfie. I guess I’m glad that a selfie of me in there doesn’t exist,” Clark, 38, says. “I find it very darkly comic. It’s obviously very sad, but it’s also incredibly funny.”
Clark saw her father taken away by the U.S. government...
Clark saw her father taken away by the U.S. government...
- 3/4/2021
- by Brenna Ehrlich
- Rollingstone.com
Low Cut Connie have released a new music video for “Charyse,” the latest single from the band’s 2020 double album, Private Lives.
The video, directed by Skylar Watkins, boasts a moody, late-night feel, but one that still seems filled with possibility and mystery. The clip jumps between footage of Low Cut Connie frontman Adam Weiner performing the ramshackle rocker, and sequences in which three models (Helen Logan, Phasayi Thomas, and Bria Bryant) light up the night.
“There are 8 million stories in the Naked City. Charyse is just one of them,...
The video, directed by Skylar Watkins, boasts a moody, late-night feel, but one that still seems filled with possibility and mystery. The clip jumps between footage of Low Cut Connie frontman Adam Weiner performing the ramshackle rocker, and sequences in which three models (Helen Logan, Phasayi Thomas, and Bria Bryant) light up the night.
“There are 8 million stories in the Naked City. Charyse is just one of them,...
- 2/22/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has announced his second feature film as a director quickly on the heels of winning both the grand jury and audience prizes at Sundance this month for his first documentary, “Summer of Soul.” He’ll return to that same era and musical milieu with a a documentary about Sly Stone, the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, a group that appeared in 1969 footage used in “Summer of Soul.”
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA,” said the Roots member and music producer turned filmmaker in announcing the new film on Friday. “It’s a Black musician’s blueprint.” He added, “To be given the honor to explore his history and legacy is beyond a dream for me.”
The “Untitled Sly Stone Project” was announced by MRC Non-Fiction, which is following up a Sundance bow of its own. The festival just...
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA,” said the Roots member and music producer turned filmmaker in announcing the new film on Friday. “It’s a Black musician’s blueprint.” He added, “To be given the honor to explore his history and legacy is beyond a dream for me.”
The “Untitled Sly Stone Project” was announced by MRC Non-Fiction, which is following up a Sundance bow of its own. The festival just...
- 2/19/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson made a splash at Sundance earlier this month with his feature directing debut “Summer of Soul.” Now, the Roots drummer is trying his hand at another music documentary, as MRC Non-Fiction announced Friday that Questlove will direct a feature about the life of Sly Stone, founding member of Sly and the Family Stone.
Here’s what MRC had to say about the project: “The untitled documentary follows the story of the influential artist, king of funk, and fashion icon Sly Stone, a musician who was breaking all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging, even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced him to walk the fine line of impossible expectations.”
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA….it’s a Black musician’s blueprint….to be given...
Here’s what MRC had to say about the project: “The untitled documentary follows the story of the influential artist, king of funk, and fashion icon Sly Stone, a musician who was breaking all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging, even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced him to walk the fine line of impossible expectations.”
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA….it’s a Black musician’s blueprint….to be given...
- 2/19/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Questlove will direct a new documentary about the career and legacy of Sly Stone.
Per a release, the as-yet-untitled project will follow “the story of the influential artist, king of funk, and fashion icon Sly Stone, a musician who was breaking all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging, even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced him to walk the fine line of impossible expectations.”
In a statement, Questlove said: “It goes beyond saying that Sly...
Per a release, the as-yet-untitled project will follow “the story of the influential artist, king of funk, and fashion icon Sly Stone, a musician who was breaking all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging, even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced him to walk the fine line of impossible expectations.”
In a statement, Questlove said: “It goes beyond saying that Sly...
- 2/19/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
As Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 tune says, it’s a family affair,
Less than two weeks after his directorial debut Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was picked up in a multi-million dollar Sundance Film Festival deal, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is heading back behind the camera for a documentary on Sly Stone – with some long time collaborators on board.
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA….it’s a black musician’s blueprint….to be given the honor to explore his history and legacy is beyond a dream for me,” the Roots drummer and musicologist said in a statement today on MRC Non-Fiction project.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stone formed and fronted the genre and culturally defining Family Stone. This latest film on Stone is expected to focus not just on his successes, but also...
Less than two weeks after his directorial debut Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was picked up in a multi-million dollar Sundance Film Festival deal, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is heading back behind the camera for a documentary on Sly Stone – with some long time collaborators on board.
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA….it’s a black musician’s blueprint….to be given the honor to explore his history and legacy is beyond a dream for me,” the Roots drummer and musicologist said in a statement today on MRC Non-Fiction project.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stone formed and fronted the genre and culturally defining Family Stone. This latest film on Stone is expected to focus not just on his successes, but also...
- 2/19/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has found his follow-up documentary project to the Sundance hit “Summer of Soul.” He will next direct a still-untitled film about Sly Stone, the founding member of the iconic funk band Sly and the Family Stone.
The film comes from MRC Non-Fiction. Questlove will direct on behalf of his banner Two One Five Entertainment along with his producing partners Zarah Zohlman and Shawn Gee. Rapper and Oscar winner Common will also executive produce the documentary via Stardust Films.
The documentary follows the story of the influential artist and fashion icon Sly Stone, a musician who broke all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging and even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced Stone to walk the fine line of impossible expectations.
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA…...
The film comes from MRC Non-Fiction. Questlove will direct on behalf of his banner Two One Five Entertainment along with his producing partners Zarah Zohlman and Shawn Gee. Rapper and Oscar winner Common will also executive produce the documentary via Stardust Films.
The documentary follows the story of the influential artist and fashion icon Sly Stone, a musician who broke all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging and even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced Stone to walk the fine line of impossible expectations.
“It goes beyond saying that Sly’s creative legacy is in my DNA…...
- 2/19/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
After making his feature directorial debut with Sundance-winning doc Summer of Love, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has set his follow-up feature on Sly Stone.
Questlove will direct the documentary about the influential artist, king of funk, and fashion icon, with his partners Zarah Zohlman and Shawn Geehis producing under their Two One Five Entertainment banner.
According to the announcement, the doc will follow the musician “who was breaking all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging, even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced him to walk the ...
Questlove will direct the documentary about the influential artist, king of funk, and fashion icon, with his partners Zarah Zohlman and Shawn Geehis producing under their Two One Five Entertainment banner.
According to the announcement, the doc will follow the musician “who was breaking all the rules at a time when doing so was extremely challenging, even dangerous. The pressure of explosive mainstream pop success and the responsibility of representing Black America forced him to walk the ...
- 2/19/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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